On Saturday, January 17, at PONCHO Concert Hall at Cornish College of the Arts, the versatile Norwegian percussionist Thomas Strønen joins British saxophonist Iain Ballamy in the duo FOOD. The duo mixes instrumental virtuosity with electronics and improvisation. The BBC calls FOOD, “a magical hybrid of technology and improvisation, Europe and America, ambience and dance.”

In recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, which is traditionally observed as a day of service, Earshot Jazz will hold a FOOD Drive in the PONCHO Concert Hall lobby. Attendees are encouraged to bring a non-perishable canned or boxed food item, and will receive a $5 discount on admission.

On Sunday, January 25, at PONCHO Concert Hall at Cornish College of the Arts tenor saxophonist Ben Wendel brings his new quartet to Seattle which includes some of the most exciting younger artists today—a startling demonstration of exactly why jazz is alive and thriving right now. Pianist Taylor Eigsti, bassist Harish Raghavan, and drummer Eric Harland join Wendel. Though all of the members of this quartet perform and record with each other regularly, this will be their first tour as a quartet.

On Sunday, February 8, at PONCHO Concert Hall the trio Thumbscrew, a band consisting of three well-established leaders on the new jazz/new music scene, present new music created specifically for this ensemble. The “three-composer trio” includes Mary Halvorson on guitar, Michael Formanek on double bass, and Tomas Fujiwara drums.

Tickets are available through Brown Paper Tickets or 1-800-838-3006. General Adult tickets are $16 for FOOD, $18 for Ben Wendel Quartet, and $16 for Thumbscrew. Half-price tickets are available for students, veterans, and active military, and $2 discounts are available for Earshot members and senior citizens (60+).

For more information, contact Earshot Jazz at 206-547-6763 or go online at www.earshot.org.

Category:
Seattle Jazz